All-rounder Shakib Al Hasan leads a volatile Bangladesh side in the first Test against West Indies on Thursday to regain the glory of his captaincy debut 13 years ago.
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In 2009, Shakib replaced the injured Mashrafe Mortaza as captain for the second Test in Grenada and was instrumental in helping his team to a 2–0 series sweep against the West Indies side.
It is now Bangladeshi who appears ill at rest and Shakib’s rehabilitation as Test captain was complete, when Mominul Haque’s slowdown in batting form meant he could no longer hold the role and the veteran wicketkeeper- Batsman Mushfiqur Rahim ruled out of the Caribbean campaign.
West Indies have been inconsistent since coming out with an unexpected 2-0 win over Bangladesh in early 2021 but going into the series as favourites, beating England earlier this year.
They will be buoyed by memories of Bangladesh’s last visit to Antigua in 2018, when the visitors were bowled out for just 53 on the first morning on their way to defeat in both Tests of the series.
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The West Indies captain was then Jason Holder, who had been replaced by Craig Brathwaite for the campaign in Bangladesh 17 months earlier, when Holder was picked out citing fatigue and Covid 19 concerns.
Holder absent again after leave is sanctioned Cricket West Indies that paves the way for Ramon Reifer to get another Test chance.
West Indies are sure to field at least two debutants as they have three uncapped players in their 12-man squad – fast-medium bowler Anderson Phillip, left-arm spinner Gudakesh Moti and wicketkeeper-batsman Devon Thomas.
Phillip is one of four players in Pakistan’s squad returning from a three-match one-day international tour that ended on Sunday, along with fellow pacers Jayden Seals and Alzarri Joseph and all-rounder Kyle Meyers.
It remains to be seen whether they recover in time from playing in the 45-degree Celsius heat and their long trip to the Caribbean – with the West Indies only having assembled a full squad on Tuesday.
Bangladesh made their warm-up fixture against the CWI President’s XI, where they lost Yasir Ali to a back injury, but seamer Mustafizur Rahman took three wickets in six overs to show his readiness to return to the Test scene 12 months later. picked up for
West Indies could be without pacer Kemar Roach for the series as he grapples with an injury sustained in Surrey in the English County Championship.
The home team would like to build on the spirit and energy of the 10-wicket haul against England in Grenada two months ago.
Bangladesh have also recently had success in motivating them, registering a resounding victory. World Test champions New Zealand at Mount Maunganui at the start of the year.
West Indies (probable): Craig Brathwaite (c), John Campbell, Nkrumah Bonner, Jermaine Blackwood, Kyle Meyers, Devon Thomas, Joshua da Silva, Ramon Reifer, Alzarri Joseph, Jaden Seals, Gudakesh Moti
Bangladesh (Probable): Shakib Al Hasan (captain), Tamim Iqbal, Mahmudul Hasan Joy, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Mominul Haque, Liton Das, Mehdi Hasan Miraj, Mustafizur Rahman, Taijul Islam, Khalid Ahmed, Ebadot Hossain
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